Water gate



1942- J. w. ALTER 2,292,262

WATER GATE Filed Jan. 15, 1941 Patented Aug. 4, 1942 UNITED STATES FATET O FFICE 11 Claims.

This arrangement relates to gates and more particularly to a gate for anirrigation canal or other fluid or material conveying duct.

An object of this invention is to provide a gate including a means forsupporting the gate in a canal, duct or the like which is so constructedas to permit a predetermined amount of water to pass therethrough.

Another object of this invention is to provide a gate of this type whichembodies a self-cleaning means so that after the gate has been in anopen position for a period of time, it may be closed and any fibrous orflexible material or other undesirable debris which may cling theretowill be removed during the movement of the gate to a closed position.

A further object of this invention is to provide a gate of this kindwhich can be economically manufactured and installed and which inoperation is more satisfactory than any device now in use or available.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a gate of thiskind which is provided with means for locking the gate in a selectedopen position so as to permit a predetermined quantity of water to passtherethrough.

To the foregoing objects and to others which may hereinafter appear, theinvention consists of the novel construction, combination andarrangement of parts as will be more specifically referred to andillustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein are shown embodiments ofthe invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations andmodifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of theinvention as claimed. a

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a detail front elevation of a gate structure constructedaccording to an embodiment of this invention showing the gate in closedposition.

Figure 2 is a detail end elevation of the gate structure.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure1.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure1.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 66 of Figure1.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary front elevation of the cleaning end of thegate.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral l0 designates generally a framestructure which is adapted to be mounted in a canal, ditch, duct or thelike through which fluid or other material is adapted to pass. The framestructure I0 is formed of angle iron and comprises a base angle bar llhaving one side 82 thereof horizontal and the other side I3 thereofvertical. A vertically disposed angle bar [4 is formed integral with theangle member II and has the lower end of the inner side 15 thereof out01f on an angle as at It so that the outer web or side I8 may be bent ata right angle and the mitered or angled portion l6 disposed incontacting relation with a mitered or angled portion ll of the web orside H1.

The vertical side frame member I 4 has formed integral therewith asubstantially semi-circular frame member I9 which has an inner side 2|extending upwardly from the inner side l5 of the angle member l4 and anouter side 22 extending from the right angular outer side l8 of theangle member I 3. The opposite end of the arcuate or semi-circular framemember I9 is extended downwardly as at 23, the extension 23 beingparallel with the vertical angle member M. The extension 23 is formedwith an inner side 24 integral with the inner side 2| and an outer side25, which is integral with the outer side member 22.

The lowerend of the extension 23 is connected to the base angle memberII by forming an extension 26 with the outer side member l2 of the anglemember H and bending this extension upwardly at right angles. The rightangular extension 26 is secured by fastening devices 21 to the innerside of the outer side or web 25 as shown in Figure 1.

A plate 28 is disposed within the rectangular area of the framestructure formed by the base angle member II and the vertical sidemembers l4 and 23. The plate 28 is adapted to be secured to the innersides l3, l5 and 24 of the angle members II, M and 23, respectively, byfastening devices 29. The fastening device 29 and fastening devices 2!may be in the form of rivets or the like. The plate 28 is formed with anarcuate cut-out 3i! which is substantially semicircular in frontelevation and which extends downwardly from the arcua'te frame memberI9. The radii of the arcuate cut-out 30 are substantially shorter inlength than the radii of the semi-circular frame member Is. Asemi-circular gate or closure 3i is adapted to slidably engage at itsouter convex edge in the cut-out 30 and the gate 31 is pivotallysupported within the cutout 30 from a pivot member 32. The pivot memher32 is extended through a vertical side 33 of a horizontally disposedangle member 34, the pivot member 32 being in the form of a rivet or thelike and preferably a washer 35 is interposed between the vertical side33 of the angle mem- .ber 34 and the adjacent face of the gate 3|.

The angle member 34 is formed with a horizontal side 36 which isextended at right angles at the opposite ends of the vertical side 33 asat 31 and 33 and these extensions 3'? and 38 are secured by fasteningdevices 39 and 48, respectively, to the outer side members l8 and 25,respectively. The opposite ends of the vertical side 33 of the anglemember 34 are adapted to overlap and engage against the inner sides I5and 24 of the angle members M and 23 as shown in Figure 3.

An angle-shaped handle 4| is secured by suitable fastening devices 42 tothe face of the gate or closure 3| opposite from the horizontal upperframe member 34. Th handle 4| extends beyond theverti'cal'sideframemember l4 as: shown in Figure l and has a vertical side 43:disposed flatagainst the adjacent vertical side of the closure 3| and also has ahorizontal side 44 extending laterally from the closure 3! andoppositely from the horizontal side 36 of the upper frame bar 34.

The closure or gate 3| has'secured to the pposite faces thereof adjacentthe arcuate edge, a pair of arcuate strips 45 which are secured to thegate or closure 3| by fastening devices 43. The arcuate strips 45extend' beyond the arcuate edge of the closure 3| and overlap the convexedge portion of the stationary plate 28 so as to form therebetween agroove 4! within which the stationary plate- 28 engages. The arcuatestrips 45 form' a means whereby the. fluid such as-water or the like isadapted to be prevented from passing between the gate or closure 3| andthe cut-out 30 of the stationary plate 28. The strips 45 therefore formwith the arcuate or convex edge 30 atongue and groove sealing connectionbetween the closure 3| and the stationary plate 28.

In order to provide a means whereby the gate or closure 3| may be heldin' a selected open position, I have provided a pluralityof spaced apartholes or openings 48 in the inner side 2| of the frame member I9. Thehandle member 4| has fixed thereto as by fastening devices 49, an anglemember 53 in the form of a keeper or the like which has an openingtherethrough. The opening 5| is adapted to be moved into registry with aselected opening 48 and a lock or pin may then engage through theregistering openings 48 and 5| so as to lock the gate 3! in the desiredopen position. The semi-circular frame member H] on the inner side 2|thereof is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apartlugs or plates 52 which are secured to the inner side member 2| byfastening devices 53. The lugs or plates 52 project inwardl from theinner concave edge of the inner side member 2| and are adapted when thegate 3! is moved to a partly or completely open position to slidinglyreceive the arcuate strips 45 of the gate 3|.

The strips 45 at the ends thereof opposite from the handle member 4| areformed with cleaning blades 54 which are adapted to clean the fibrous orflexible material or articles which engage over the convex edge of theplate 28. The cleaning operation is effected when thegate 3| is moved toa closed position.

The cleaning members 54 are formed integral with the strips 45 and areformed in substantially V-shape in side elevation so that the fibrous orflexible material which engages over the concave edge 30 of the plate 28may be readily cut off or removed from the concave edge 30 during themovement of the gate 3| to a closed position.

In the use and operation of this gate struc ture, the frame I0 isadapted to be fixedly secured in a canal, ditch or other duct.Preferably, the depth of the canal or ditch is substantially equal tothe length of the parallel vertical side members I4 and 23. Whenit isdesired to either partly or completely open the gate 3|, the handle 4|is swung in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 1 and ifthe gate 3| is thereby completel opened, the handle 4| is moved to adiametrically opposite position from that shown in Figure 1. In thiscompletely open position, the gate member 3| will have the arcuatestrips 45 thereof engaging on opposite faces of all of the guiding lugsor plates 52. A padlock or pin may be extended through the registeringopenings 5| and '48- so as to hold the gate 3| in its completely openedposition. By providing the keeper 53 with the spaced apart openings 48,the position of the gate 3| cannot be tampered with. If it is desired toonly open the gate 3| partway; the handle 4| is raised to the desiredposition and then locked by extending the bolt of the padlock or a pinthrough the selected opening 48 which registers with the opening 5| ofthe keeper 50.

During the movement of the gate 3| to a closed position, the cleaningblades or members 54 will clean the overlapping material which engagesover the arcuate edge 30 of the plate 28. Preferably, the upper edge ofthe gate 3| is cut out in V-shape as at 55 so as to provide properclearance for the back sides of the blades 54 and so that the gate 3|may assist in cleaning the arcuate edge of the plate 28.. Assuming thatthe gate 3| is moved to only a half open position and that the level ofthe water or fluid does not exceed the height of the bar 34, the fluidis adapted to pass through the sector formed between the -upper edge ofthe gate 3| from the pivot 32 and the lower edge of the vertical side 33of the frame bar 34. By opening the gate in this manner, it will bepossible to more accurately determine the amount of fluid which is beingdelivered from one side of the gate to the other side thanwould be thecase if the gate 3| were opened from the bottom thereof as in theconventional type of gate.

This gate structure in the present instance is made out of flat sheetmetal and angle iron and in the event the seal formed by the arcuategroove forming members 45 is not suihcient to prevent leakage of liquidsfrom one side of the gate to the other, there may be provided additionalgroove forming members 45 and additional plates 28. It Will also beunderstood that if desired suitable arcuate gaskets or the like may beinterposed between the confronting faces of the strips 45 and thestationary plate member 28.

A gate structure has been constructed according to this invention andplaced in actual operation and use, and has been found more efficientthan gates at present available. While the gate structure herein shownhas been made out of metal, it may also be made out of wood or othermaterial.

This gate structure has been designed for manual operation by liftingthe handle 4|, but it will be understood that if desired, other meansmay be provided for shifting the position of the gate 3| where this gateis made too large for easy manual movement.

What I claim is:

1. A water gate structure comprising a vertically disposed rectangularframe formed of angle bars, a plate secured to said frame and having asemi-circular cutout extending downwardly from the upper edge thereof, asemi-circular frame bar extending upwardly from said rectangular frame,a semi-circular gate engageable within said cutout, means pivotallysupporting said gate for rotary movement relative to said cutout, meansfor rotating said gate, a pair of arcuate strips fixed to said gate andoverlapping the marginal edge of said cutout, and guide means carried bysaid semi-circular bar and engageable between said strips when said gateis raised to an open position 2. A water gate structure comprising avertically disposed rectangular frame formed of angle bars, a platesecured to said frame and having a semi-circular cutout extendingdownwardly from the upper edge thereof, a semi-circular frame barextending upwardly from said rectangular frame, a semi-circular gateengageable without said cutout, means pivotally supporting said gate forrotary movement relative to said cutout, means for rotating said gate, apair of arcuate strips fixed to said gate and overlapping the marginaledge of said cutout, guide means carried by said semi-circular bar andengageable between said strips when said gate is raised to an openposition, and a keeper carried by said rotating means, saidsemi-circular bar having openings therein adapted for registration withsaid keeper whereby a gate locking means may be inserted through saidkeeper and a selected opening for locking said gate in a selectedposition.

3. A water gate structure comprising a vertically disposed rectangularframe formed of angle bars, a plate secured to said frame and having asemi-circular cutout extending downwardly from the upper edge thereof, asemi-circular frame bar extending upwardly from said rectangular frame,a semi-circular gate engageable within said cutout, means pivotallysupporting said gate for rotary movement relative to said cutout, meansfor rotating said gate, a pair of arcuate strips fixed to said gate andoverlapping the marginal edge of said cutout, guide means carried bysaid semi-circular bar and engageable between said strips when said gateis raised to an open position, and a cutter at one end of each stripadapted upon movement of said gate from an open to a closed position tocut and remove material engaging over the concave edge of said cutout.

4. A water gate structure comprising an upstanding frame formed of asemi-circular upper portion and a rectangular lower portion, a platefixed to one side of said rectangular lower portion and formed with acutout, a rotatable gate for closing the cutout slidably mountedrelative to the plate and in vertical alignment therewith, meanspivotally securing said gate to said rectangular lower portion, sealingmembers carried by the gate and slidably engaging the opposite faces ofsaid plate, means for rotating said gate,

and means carried by said semi-circular frame portion disposed invertical alignment with said plate and engageable between said sealingmembers for guiding said gate during the movement thereof to an openposition.

5. A water gate structure comprising an upstanding frame formed of asemi-circular upper portion and a rectangular lower portion, a platefixed to one side of said rectangular lower portion and formed with acutout, a rotatable gate for closing the cutout slidably mountedrelative to the plate and in vertical alignment therewith, meanspivotally securing said gate to said rectangular lower portion, sealingmembers carried by the gate and slidably engaging the opposite faces ofsaid plate, means for rotating said gate, means carried by saidsemi-circular frame portion disposed in vertical alignment with saidplate and engageable between said sealing members for guiding said gateduring the movement thereof to an open position, and correlated meanscarried by said gate rotating means and said semi-circular frame portionfor receiving a latching means to latch the gate against rotation.

6. A water gate structure comprising an upstanding frame, an upstandingplate within and carried by said frame and formed with a substantiallysemi-circular cutout opening at the top edge of the plate, a rotatablesemi-circular gate engageable in said cutout, means connected to thegatein proximity to its straight edge for rotatably supporting saidgate, and means extended laterally from one end of the straight I edgeof the gate for rotating said gate.

7. A water gate structure comprising an upstanding frame, an upstandingplate within and carried by said frame and formed with a substantiallysemi-circular cutout opening at the top edge of the plate, a rotatablesemi-circular gate engageable in said cutout, means connected to thegate in proximity to its straight edge for rotatably supporting saidgate, means extended laterally from one end of the straight edge of thegate for rotating said gate, and said frame and gate having correlatingmeans whereby said gate may be locked against rotation.

8. A water gate structure comprising an upstanding frame, a platecarried by said frame and formed with a substantially semi-circularcutout, a rotatable semi-circular gate engageable in said cutout, meansrotatably supporting said gate, means for rotating said gate, meanswhereby said gate may be locked against rotation, a pair of arcuatestrips secured to said gate and overlapping the opposite faces of saidplate, and a cleaning blade carried by each strip at one end thereof.

9. A water gate structure comprising an upstanding frame, an upstandingplate within and carried by said frame and formed with a substantiallysemi-circular cutout opening at the top edge of the plate, a rotatablesemi-circular gate operating in said cutout for closing it and carryingmeans for slidably opposing the faces of said plate bordering saidcutout, means rotatably supporting said gate, means for rotating saidgate, and the said means carried by said gate provided at one end withmeans for cleaning the edge of said cutout upon rotation of said gate toa closed position.

10. A water gate structure comprising an upstanding frame formed of asemi-circular upper portion and a rectangular lower portion, a verticalplate supported by said rectangular lower portion and formed with asemi-circular cutout opening at the top edge of the plate, a rotatablegate for closing the cutout having a straight edge and an arcuate edge,said arcuate edge normally opposing and slidably mounted relative to thecurved edge of said plate and pivotally connectedadjacent to andcentrally with respect edge normally opposing and slidably mountedrelative to the curved edge of said plate and pivotally connectedadjacent to and centrally with respect to said straight edge with saidrectangular portion, sealing members carried by the gate extending fromthe'arcuate edge of the latterand opposing the opposite faces of theplate bordering the curved edge of the cutout, and means for rotatingsaid gate relative to said 10 frame.

JOHN WINSTON ALTER.

